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New California legislation could cut off some state funding for Costa Mesa based on language the city's Charter Committee has voted to include in a new draft charter. Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 7 into law over the weekend, turning the tables on a local debate over how construction workers should be paid. The legislation allows the state to withhold funds for public works projects executed by cities whose charters include ordinances or provisions that allow contractors to pay other than prevailing wages.

Prosecutors last week raided a law firm being sued by Costa Mesa Mayor Jim Righeimer and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Mensinger, according to published reports. The Orange County district attorney secured a warrant last week and searched the Upland office of Lackie, Dammeier, McGill & Ethir, the Voice of OC reported Tuesday . The nonprofit news organization reviewed a Superior Court log showing that district attorney's investigators raided the firm Thursday. Investigators left the office with boxes of documents, according to the San Bernardino County Sentinel , which first reported the story.

The Orange County Equality Coalition has filed a complaint with the state accusing Corona del Mar High School of discriminating against an organization that offers support to gays and lesbians. The coalition alleges in a Department of Education filing that the Newport-Mesa Unified School District violated state laws by requiring parents to sign permission slips allowing their children to receive information about HIV/AIDS and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) at CdM's annual Diversity Day event.

In an attempt to "immunize" the city from "unnecessary litigation," the Newport Beach City Council voted Tuesday night to make a written pledge not to repeat the actions that led to allegations of violating the state's open meeting laws. City staff drafted a letter in response to resident Jim Mosher's allegation that the council violated the Ralph M. Brown Act in several instances related to the city's Sept. 10 decision to pursue a contract with a private company to outsource trash collection.

By Emily Foxhall and This post has been corrected, as noted below. | October 7, 2013

The Newport Beach City Council will respond Tuesday night to one of two letters alleging violations of California's open-meetings law. In an email Sept. 17, Newport Beach resident Jim Mosher sent two "cease and desist" letters accusing the city of violating the state law, known as the Ralph M. Brown Act, in several instances related to the city's Sept. 10 decision to pursue a contract with a private company to outsource trash collection. City staff said they believed Mosher's allegations to be "largely without merit," according to the staff report, but they recommended that the council address one accusation in one of the letters to prevent litigation.

The Costa Mesa City Council this week repealed a law that banned day laborers from actively soliciting work on city streets. The council unanimously agreed Tuesday night to scrap the ordinance without discussion. Costa Mesa's anti-solicitation law, which was passed in 2005, prohibited job-seekers from attracting drivers' attention by waving arms, making hand signals, shouting, jumping up and down, and waving signs. The law also rendered it illegal for a driver to hire someone standing in the street.

An ordinance designed to allow Costa Mesa officials to address "chronic" problems unanimously passed the City Council earlier this week but faces more hurdles before becoming law. The Public Nuisance Abatement Ordinance had its first reading Tuesday and will come before the council again during the Oct. 1 session. If approved, it would take effect 30 days later. The ordinance, which the council last examined in June , would provide the city with a more streamlined approach toward fixing "chronic and long-term problems" that spill over and are detrimental to other properties, according to city staff.

Two legal scholars battled over marriage equality during a debate at Orange Coast College on Thursday. Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Irvine School of Law, argued as a proponent of marriage equality. His opponent, John Eastman, former Chapman School of Law dean, took the position that marriage is between a man and a woman. The debate was the capstone event of OCC's Constitution Day, which consisted of various lectures and events stretched over three days. A 2004 law requires schools that receive federal funding to have some type of educational discussion about the Constitution on Sept.

An Upland-based law firm being sued by two Costa Mesa City Council members is closing, according to a letter obtained Thursday by the Daily Pilot. Lackie, Dammeier, McGill & Ethir "will be winding down and eventually close," according to the letter sent by partner Dieter Dammeier to one of his police association clients. It was dated Wednesday. Dammeier also writes of a "mass exodus" of attorneys amid the recent "turmoil. " It does not specify the timeline of the firm's dissolution.

A state Senate bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday delays when Costa Mesa residents will vote on the charter being drafted by the city's committee. SB 311, introduced by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), mandates that city charters be voted on in the November general election. Previously, charters could go for a public vote in June primary elections, general elections or regularly scheduled municipal elections, according to the bill. The earliest Costa Mesa voters will be able to approve or deny a charter is November 2014, said Deputy City Attorney Yolanda Summerhill.